Beverage filter cartridge holder

ABSTRACT

A cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejection mechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beverage cartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid is opened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mounted on externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between an upright brewing position and a partially inverted position to eject the dislodged cartridge from the holder into an underlying receptacle. The lid has a dependency arm that coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automatically manipulate the holder to eject the cartridge.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter that relates to the followingapplications filed evendate herewith, identified as Ser. No. 09/232,994entitled “Automated Beverage Brewing System” and Ser. No. 09/233,272entitled “Apparatus for Consecutively Dispensing an Equal Volume ofLiquid”, both hereby incorporated by reference. This application is acontinuation of Ser. No. 09/232,993 filed Jan. 19, 1999, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,079,315.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to brewers for brewing hot beverages fromextracts contained in hermetically sealed disposable cartridges of thetype described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 entitled “Beverage FilterCartridge”, assigned of record to the assignee of the present invention,the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Asdisclosed in this patent, the cartridge is placed in a cup shapedhousing which is then closed by a vertically adjustable lid. The lid andhousing are provided respectively with upper and lower apertured probeswhich pierce the top and bottom of the cartridge to establish a liquidflow path therethrough during the brewing cycle. At the completion ofthe brewing cycle, the lid is raised, and the spent cartridge ismanually removed and discarded. Removal is sometimes hindered by thelower probe which has a tendency to remain lodged in the bottom of thecartridge.

The present invention improves on the foregoing by providing a mechanismfor automatically dislodging and discharging the spent cartridge fromthe brewer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the cup shaped holder is internally provided with an ejectionmechanism which serves to automatically dislodge a spent beveragecartridge from an upwardly extending piercing member when the lid isopened at the end of a brewing cycle. In addition, the holder is mountedon externally protruding trunnions for pivotal movement between a readyposition and a beverage brewing position. The lid as a dependency armthat coacts with a pawl on the holder trunnions to automaticallymanipulate the holder between its upright and inclined positions. Duringthe transition from the brewing position to the ready position the armengages the pawl causing the cartridge to be discharged from the holder.

In one embodiment, the holder comprises a base surface that includes abase opening coaxial with the upwardly extending hollow piercing membersecured to the base surface, and a slidable cartridge platform having abore formed therein coaxial with the upwardly extending piercing memberto allow the hollow piercing member to extend through the slidablecartridge platform. The holder also includes a cartridge ejection armhaving a first axial end connected with the slidable cartridge platformand a second axial end, and a sidewall extending axially from the basesurface and including an interior surface that defines a chamber sizedto receive the cartridge. The interior surface includes a guide channelthat engages the cartridge ejection arm allowing the slidable cartridgeplatform to axially move within the chamber. A resilient member islocated between the base surface and the slidable cartridge platform.When the cartridge is placed into the holder, a radially outwardlyprotruding lip of the cartridge rests on the second axial end of thecartridge ejection arm, and when a axial positioning force is applied tothe radially outwardly protruding lip, the slidable cartridge platformmoves downward causing the hollow piercing member to extend through thebore and pierce a bottom surface of the cartridge to provide an exitflow path for a brewed beverage through the base opening.

The resilient member is preferably a spring of sufficient size, suchthat, when the axial positioning force is removed, the resilient membercauses the cartridge to withdraw from the hollow piercing member. Thesidewall may shaped cylindrically or as a truncated cone.

To discharge the cartridge from the holder, the sidewall includes anexterior surface that comprises a pair of radially outwardly extendingtrunnions that pivotally support the holder. In addition, the holder mayinclude a first pawl attached to the sidewall, wherein the first pawl isengaged to cause the cartridge holder to quickly pivot about the pair ofradially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge fromthe chamber.

The cartridge holder cooperates with an axially moveable lid, which isdrivenly manipulated between the ready position and the beverage brewingposition. In the ready position the axially moveable lid is located aspaced distance above the holder. In the beverage brewing position thelid applies the axial positioning force to the radially downwardlyprotruding lip of the cartridge, causing the hollow piercing member topenetrate the bottom surface of the cartridge. The lid includes anaxially downward projecting apertured probe that pierces a cover of thecartridge to establish an entry flow path for liquid (e.g., hot water)into the cartridge.

The lid cooperates with at a least one downwardly projecting pivotpositioning arm that controls the orientation of the cartridge holderabout the radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally supportthe holder. The downwardly projecting pivot positioning arm engages thefirst pawl to cause the cartridge holder to pivot about the pair ofradially outwardly extending trunnions and discharge the cartridge fromthe chamber.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a beverage brewing system;

FIGS. 2A-2D are side views of the cartridge holder and the lid invarious operational positions;

FIG. 3 is an assembly drawing of the cartridge holder;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cartridge holder; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the cartridge holder; and

FIGS. 6A-6C are simplified cross sectional front views of the cartridgeholder and the lid in various operational positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a beverage brewing system 20. Thesystem 20 includes a slidable drawer 22 comprising side panels 24, 26that each include a mounting hole (not shown), which together pivotallymount a beverage filter cartridge holder 28 to the slidable drawer 22.The drawer 22 slides along track assembles 32, 34.

The system 20 also includes an axially moveable lid 40 that ismanipulated by a linkage yoke 38 (partially shown), driven by anelectric motor 37 through a pinion driven rack 39. The lid 40 is axiallyguided along vertical side tracks 42, 44 between a ready position and abeverage brewing position. In the ready position the lid 40 is axiallypositioned above and separated from the cartridge holder 28, assuming ofcourse that the slidable drawer 22 is in the closed position. The holder28 includes a chamber 36, and cartridge ejection arms 46, 48 thatsupport and position a beverage cartridge within the holder.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the cartridge holder 28 and the lid 40. Asshown, a beverage cartridge 50 (preferably disposable) has been insertedinto the cartridge holder 28 to brew beverages from extracts (e.g.,coffee, tea, powders and concentrates) contained in disposablehermetically sealed cartridges. A preferred beverage cartridge isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189, which is assigned to the assigneeof the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 3 is an assembly drawing of the cartridge holder 28. The holder 28comprises a housing 79 having a circular base surface 80 that includes abase opening 82 coaxial with an upwardly extending hollow piercingmember 84 secured to the base surface 80. A slidable cartridge platform86 having a bore 88 formed therein is coaxial with the upwardlyextending piercing member 84, which allows the member 84 to extendthrough the slidable cartridge platform 86. The hollow piercing member84 includes a circular lip 89 that is bonded to the periphery of thebase opening 82, and an outwardly extending conduit 90 that passesthrough the base opening 82 and extends below the base surface 80. Theoutwardly extending conduit 90 includes an internal flow passage thatacts as a diffuser to reduce the velocity of the liquid exiting theconduit. A seal 91 is snuggly slipped over the hollow piercing member 84to prevent leakage around the circular lip 89. The hollow piercingmember 84 also includes a cross hole 95 through which liquid can alsoenter the hollow piercing member 84.

A resilient member 92 is operatively located between the base surface 80and the slidable cartridge platform 86. Axial positioning members 94attached to the slidable cartridge platform 86 pass through theresilient member 92 and through an aperture 96 centered in the basesurface 80. The positioning members 94 include radial projections 98,which retain the positioning members 94 within the aperture 96 and theslidable cartridge platform within the housing.

The housing 79 also includes a sidewall 100 extending axially from thebase surface 80 to define the chamber 36 that is sized to receive thecartridge 50 (FIG. 2A). The sidewall 100 may be shaped cylindrically oras a truncated cone to closely match the shape of the cartridge. Thesidewall 100 includes first and second guide channels 104, 105 thatengage the cartridge ejection arms 46, 48 respectively, allowing theslidable cartridge platform 86 to axially move within the chamber 36.The cartridge ejection arms 46, 48 include first axial ends 106, 107connected to the slidable cartridge platform 86, and second axial endsurfaces 108, 110 that contact and support the radially outwardlyprotruding lip 52 (FIG. 2A) of the cartridge 50 (FIG. 2A).

The holder 28 also includes force absorbing members 112, 114 (e.g., madeof rubber) that rest on a plateau 116 of the sidewall 100 and support acompliance ring 117. The absorbing members 112, 114 have a height Hdimension 118 that positions the upper rim of the compliance ringslightly above the housing 79 when no force is being applied to thering. The function of the force absorbing members 112, 115 and thecompliance ring 117 shall be discussed hereinafter.

The housing further comprises a pair of radially outwardly extendingtrunnions 120, 122 that pivotally support the holder 28, and pawls 124,125 that are used to position the holder about the axis extendingthrough the trunnions 120, 122.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the cartridge holder 28. FIG. 5 is an isometricview of the cartridge holder 28.

FIG. 6A is a simplified cross sectional front view with the beveragecartridge 50 inserted into the holder 28 and the lid 40 in the readyposition (note the resilient member 92 is in the expanded position).FIG. 2A is a side view of the cartridge holder 28 populated with thecartridge 50 and the lid 40 in the ready position. Referring to FIGS. 2Aand FIG. 6A, the radially outwardly protruding lip 52 (FIG. 2) of thecartridge 50 rests on the second axial end surfaces 108, 110 of thecartridge ejection arms 46, 48 respectively. Notably, the lid 40 ispositioned a spaced distance above the holder 28 and as a result theresilient member 84 is in the relaxed (i.e., expanded) position.

As the lid 40 moves from the ready position (FIGS. 2A and 6A) axiallydownward to the beverage brewing position (FIGS. 2B and 6B), an inclinedsurface 160 of a downward projecting pivot arm 130 that is attached tothe lid contacts the pawl 125. The pivot arm 130 and its inclinedsurface 160 are preferably a flexible plastic allowing the pivot arm tobend slightly away as the surface 160 slides downwardly against thepawl. As the lid continues axially downward the inclined surface passesbelow the pawl 125 and the pivot arm flexes back. The lid then appliesan axial positioning force to the radially outwardly protruding lip 52of the cartridge 50, moving the slidable cartridge platform 86 deeperinto the chamber and compressing the resilient member 92. The forceapplied by the lid 40 causes a downwardly projecting apertured probe 126to pierce the top of the cartridge 50 establishing a flow inlet thatprovides a liquid (e.g., hot water) to the interior of the cartridge.The force applied by the lid also causes the hollow piercing member 84to extend through the bore 88 and pierce a bottom surface of thecartridge, to provide an exit flow path for a brewed beverage throughthe slidable cartridge platform 86 and the base surface 80. Thecompliance ring 117 and the force absorbing members 112, 114 (FIG. 3)are used to compensate for dimensional offsets and tolerances in theholder and the cartridge.

When a predetermined amount of liquid has been delivered through thecartridge 50 to provide the brewed beverage, the lid 40 begins to moveaxially upward allowing the resilient member 92 to expand.Significantly, referring to FIG. 6C, the resilient member 92 ispreferably a spiral spring of sufficient size, such that, when the axialpositioning force applied by the lid 40 is removed, the resilient member92 causes the slidable cartridge platform 86 to move axially upward towithdraw the cartridge 50 from the hollow piercing member 84. FIG. 6Cillustrates a transitional lid position as the lid moves from thebrewing position to the ready position, illustrating the cartridgewithdrawn from the hollow piercing member 84. Significantly, as the lidmoves upward the resilient member 92 expands causing the slidablecartridge platform 86 to move axially upward withdrawing the cartridge50 from the hollow piercing member 84.

Referring to FIG. 2C, the lid includes a downward projecting pivot arm130 that engages the underside of the pawl 125 as the lid moves to theready position. Specifically, as the lid axially moves from the brewingposition to the ready position the pivot arm contacts the underside ofthe pawl 125 causing the holder to rapidly rotate about the trunnions.The other pawl 124 cooperates with stops (not shown) located on thesidewall 26 (FIG. 1) to limit the pivotal movement of the holder betweenthe upright position and discharge positions (e.g., about 135 degrees ofrotation). As the holder rapidly rotates, the pawl 124 strikes one ofthe stops abruptly stopping the rotation of the holder and ejecting thecartridge. Advantageously, this automatically discharges the cartridgefrom the holder upon the completion of the brewing cycle. As the lidcontinues moving upward to the ready position, the pivot arm 130disengages from the pawl 125 and allows the empty cartridge holder topivot about the trunnions back to the upright position, as shown in FIG.2D. To ensure the lid 40 separates from the top of the cartridge 50, aplurality of projections 178 are located on the underside of the lid140. For example, the projections 178 may radially extend from thecenter of the underside of the lid. A foam gasket 155 also assists inseparating the lid 40 from the top of the cartridge 50.

To brew another beverage, the drawer 22 (FIG. 1) is opened and a newcartridge is inserted into the holder.

Although the present invention has been shown and described with respectto several preferred embodiments thereof, various changes, omissions andadditions to the form and detail thereof, may be made therein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A chamber for a cartridge containing a beverageextract, said chamber comprising: a housing having a sidewall and abottom wall with an upwardly projecting apertured probe defining aliquid outlet; a platform overlying said bottom wall, said platformhaving an opening aligned with said apertured probe and being providedwith an upwardly extending ejection arm, said platform being movablebetween a raised position at which said platform wall is above saidprobe and said ejection arm projects above said housing, and a loweredposition at which said probe projects through said opening in saidplatform and said ejection arm is retracted into said housing, saidhousing being configured and dimensioned to receive the cartridge withthe cartridge mounted for movement in unison with said ejection arm;means for resiliently urging said platform into said raised position; alid overlaying said housing, said lid having a downwardly projectingapertured probe defining a liquid inlet; and means for manipulating saidlid between a ready position spaced above said housing, and a beveragebrewing position where said lid applies a positioning force urging thecartridge and said platform downwardly, causing said downwardly andupwardly projecting apertured probes to pierce the cartridge and placesaid liquid inlet in communication with said liquid outlet via theinterior of the cartridge.
 2. The chamber of claim 1, wherein said meansfor manipulating further comprises means for moving said lid from saidbeverage brewing position to a discharge position that discharges thecartridge from said chamber.
 3. The chamber of claim 2, wherein saidmeans for resiliently urging includes a spring of sufficient size suchthat when said lid is positioned to remove the positioning force, saidspring moves said platform to the raised position causing the cartridgeto withdraw from said upwardly projecting apertured probe.
 4. Thechamber of claim 3, wherein A) said housing sidewall comprises: i) anexterior surface that includes a pair of radially outwardly extendingtrunnions that pivotally support said chamber; ii) a first pawl attachedto said housing sidewall, wherein said first pawl is engaged to causesaid housing to pivot about said pair of radially outwardly extendingtrunnions and discharge the cartridge from said chamber; iii) a secondpawl attached to said sidewall, wherein said second pawl is engaged tolimit the rotational travel of said chamber about said trunnions; and B)said lid further comprises means for engaging said first and secondpawls to pivot said chamber in order to discharge the cartridge fromsaid chamber.
 5. A beverage filter cartridge holder that receives abeverage filter cartridge containing a beverage extract, and positionsand pierces the cartridge establishing a liquid flow path through theextract to provide a brewed beverage, said beverage filter cartridgeholder comprising: a base surface that includes a base opening coaxialwith an upwardly extending hollow piercing member secured to said basesurface; a slidable cartridge platform having a bore formed thereincoaxial with said hollow piercing member to allow said hollow piercingmember to pass through said slidable cartridge platform; a springlocated between said base surface and said slidable cartridge platform;a cartridge ejection arm having a first axial end connected with saidslidable cartridge platform and a second axial end; and a sidewallextending axially from said base surface and including an interiorsurface that defines a chamber sized to receive the beverage filtercartridge, wherein said interior surface includes a channeled axialpassage that engages said cartridge ejection arm allowing said slidablecartridge platform to axially move deeper into said holder in responseto a positioning force, wherein when the beverage filter cartridge isplaced into said beverage filter cartridge holder, a radially outwardlyprotruding lip of the beverage filter cartridge rests on said secondaxial end of said cartridge ejection arm extending axially outside saidbeverage filter cartridge holder, and when the positioning force isapplied to the radially outwardly protruding lip against said spring,said slidable cartridge platform moves downward causing said hollowpiercing member to extend through said bore and pierce a bottom surfaceof the beverage filter cartridge to provide an exit flow path for thebrewed beverage through said base opening.
 6. The beverage filtercartridge holder of claim 5, wherein said spring is of sufficient sizesuch that when the positioning force is removed, said spring causes saidhollow piercing member to be removed from the beverage filter cartridge.7. The beverage filter cartridge holder of claim 6, wherein said boreand said hollow piercing member are co-axial.
 8. The beverage filtercartridge holder of claim 6, further comprising a second cartridgeejection arm having a base axial end connected with said slidablecartridge platform and a distant axial end extending outside saidbeverage filter cartridge holder a distance equal to said cartridgeejection arm, wherein said second cartridge ejection arm cooperates withsaid cartridge ejection arm to position the beverage filter cartridge.9. The beverage filter cartridge holder of claim 6, wherein said springis spiral and coaxial with said base surface and said slidable cartridgeplatform.
 10. The beverage filter cartridge holder of claim 6, whereinsaid sidewall includes an exterior surface that comprises a pair ofradially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support saidbeverage filter cartridge holder.
 11. The beverage filter cartridgeholder of claim 10, further comprising a first pawl attached to saidsidewall, wherein said first pawl is engaged to cause said beveragefilter cartridge holder to pivot about said pair of radially outwardlyextending trunnions and discharge the beverage filter cartridge fromsaid beverage filter cartridge holder.
 12. The beverage filter cartridgeholder of claim 11, further comprising a second pawl attached to saidtruncated conical sidewall, wherein said second pawl is engaged to limitthe rotational travel of the holder about said trunnions.
 13. Thebeverage filter cartridge holder of claim 12, wherein said base surface,said sidewall, said pair of radially outwardly extending trunnions andsaid first and second pawls are formed from a unitary piece of plastic.14. A cartridge holder that receives a cartridge containing a beverageextract, and positions and pierces the cartridge to establish a liquidflow path through the beverage extract to provide a brewed beverage,said cartridge holder comprising: a base surface that includes a baseopening coaxial with an upwardly extending hollow piercing membersecured to said base surface; a slidable cartridge platform having abore formed therein coaxial with said upwardly extending piercing memberto allow said hollow piercing member to extend through said slidablecartridge platform; a cartridge ejection arm having a first axial endconnected with said slidable cartridge platform and a second axial endextending outside a chamber; a sidewall extending axially from said basesurface and including an interior surface that defines said chambersized to receive the cartridge, wherein said interior surface includes achanneled passage that engages said cartridge ejection arm allowing saidslidable cartridge platform to axially move within said chamber; and aresilient member located between said base surface and said slidablecartridge platform; wherein when the cartridge is placed into saidcartridge holder, a radially outwardly protruding lip of the cartridgerests on said second axial end of said cartridge ejection arm.
 15. Thecartridge holder of claim 14, wherein said resilient member is a spring.16. The cartridge holder of claim 15, wherein said resilient member isof sufficient size such that when the axial positioning force isremoved, said resilient member causes said hollow piercing member to beremoved from the cartridge.
 17. The cartridge holder of claim 16,wherein said sidewall includes an exterior surface that comprises a pairof radially outwardly extending trunnions that pivotally support saidcartridge holder.
 18. The cartridge holder of claim 17, furthercomprising a first pawl attached to said sidewall, wherein said firstpawl is engaged to cause said cartridge holder to pivot about said pairof radially outwardly extending trunnions.
 19. The cartridge holder ofclaim 18, further comprising a second pawl attached to said sidewall,wherein said second pawl is engaged to limit the rotational travel ofthe cartridge holder about said trunnions.
 20. The cartridge holder ofclaim 19, wherein said base surface, said sidewall, said pair ofradially outwardly extending trunnions and said first and second pawlsare formed from a unitary piece of plastic.
 21. The cartridge holder ofclaim 20, wherein said base surface, said sidewall, said pair ofradially outwardly extending trunnions and said first and second pawlsare formed from a unitary piece of plastic.
 22. The cartridge holder ofclaim 14, further comprising means for applying an axial positioningforce to said second axial end of said cartridge ejection arm that urgessaid slidable cartridge platform downward causing said hollow piercingmember to extend through said bore and pierce a bottom surface of thecartridge to provide an exit flow path for the brewed beverage throughsaid base opening.